Andrew Shin, Snow White Movie Response

Play-by-play critique and observations:

I found it amusing that Walt Disney thanks his staff's loyalty in the beginning credits of the movie. Perhaps he is still salty from previous events. 

The queen addresses the mirror as "slave in the mirror." However, according to the annotated original text, mirrors are a reflection of the soul. Perhaps, the queen's true self is a slave to her own vanity or desires.

The fact that Snow White looks so happy doing these domestic tasks such as drawing water and scrubbing the floor suggests that women enjoy their role as slaves in the domestic sphere. I was very impressed however that she was able to harmonize with her own voice's echo in the well scene.

It is interesting that the prince appears in the beginning of the movie. Disney's effort to give him a more leading role is apparent from the start. He also wears the same colors that Snow White later dawns. Perhaps this represents how Snow White is so reliant on men that she cannot even be independent in choosing the color of her own clothes.

The animation work in the scenes where Snow White is running through the forest are very amusing as all of the inanimate objects around her seem to come alive. In reality, she is only surrounded by benevolent and cute animals. Perhaps there is an underlying message in that fear is only in the mind. 

After escaping the woods, Snow White says that she is "ashamed of the fuss she made." I just find it wrong that she apologizes for the fact that she was scared. I guess the ideal woman of those times should just be silent until spoken to. 

Snow White described the dwarves' home as a "doll house" when she first sees it. Ironically, she will become the doll that is trapped there, told to continue the same duties that she performed under the evil queen. Apparently, those tasks are completely fine if a man tells her to do them.

I love how Snow White's first reaction to a house that looks abandoned and haunted is to clean it instead of running away. 

Perhaps the only positive thing I can say about this movie so far is the music. The soundtrack was composed well to fit the different scenes and the voice actors are excellent vocalists. 

In the cleaning scene, Snow White really does not do much. Instead, it is the animals that do all of the work. This might be way off but perhaps Disney has chosen to portray the lower classes as animals that serve Snow White. This message would indeed be disgusting if true since it is offensive and classist. But then again, that sounds like a very Disney thing to do. 

Why does that one dwarf leave the key to the vault on a hook right next to the vault? 

The feet squeaking as the dwarves return home is hilarious. The dwarves are shocked that their house is clean. It suggests that men are incapable of taking care of themselves in terms of personal hygiene unless they have a woman to do it for them. 

In contrast to the original story, Snow White adopts a motherly role which is apparent when she is about to serve dinner. Also, the dwarves are portrayed as childish. Snow's age is definitely left ambiguous on purpose as she must represent both the helpless maiden and motherly authority. 

I appreciate the fact that the queen seems much more cunning in the movie version, specifically in the scene where she is making the aging potion. 

I also appreciate that Snow White actually has feelings for the prince, as communicated in her song, and is not slammed with the big question as soon as she wakes from the dead. 

The representation of Eve and the snake is much clearer in the scene where the queen makes the poisoned apple than in the story. Furthermore, the fact that the apple only causes sleep makes the story slightly more realistic, but just slightly. 

As the dwarves head off to work and Snow White bids them farewell, this highlights women's traditional role in the domestic sphere especially well. Grumpy's warning for her to stay in the house reinforces this. 

Just like in the story, it bothers me that the prince is willing to kiss what he things is a corpse. To conclude, there are many similarities in the stories between original story and the movie. However, the differences are just as striking. For instance, the  prince gains a stronger role and Snow represents both the maiden and motherly roles.